The Ex-Home Minister was a strong ally of Pakatan Rakyat.

Pakatan Rakyat lost a strong ally when the Home Minister , Syed Hamid Albar was replaced by Najib's cousin, Hishamuddin.With Syed at ther helm of the Home ministry, Pakatan won alot of previously B.N supporters.Many were appalled at the authocratic manner in which the Home Ministry directed the police to curb what was harmless peaceful assembly. Even peaceful candle light vigils were met with brute force from the police who were suppose to be defenders and protectors of lawful citizens.Even small children handing flowers to the P.M were manhandled and taken into custody.

Even innocent reporters who reported on the racists and seditious words uttered by an UMNO member from Penang was not spared and was taken into custody but later because of public outcry the Home Minister offered the lame excuse that she was taken in for her own protection. Even the popular member of Parliament , Theresa Kok was arrested under the ISA purportedly because the ex-menteri Besar Toyo had wrongly reported that she had petitioned against the noise emanating from the mosque in Shah Alam .Because unfettered power was given to one man who suddenly inherited so much power that it was frivously applied without any regard to the truth or falsity of the accusation. Hence when it was later found to his chagrin that he had acted impulsely on both counts the Home Minister had to eat humble pie and released the two innocent victims.His other ridiculous forays of arresting and blasting tear gas to disperse peaceful assembly was so brutal that even B.N supporters turned against the govt.

The ex-Home Minister last contribution to Pakatan Rakyat's cause was during the tri-election when police issued warnings that the name Altantuya and the Perak sultan's decision not to dissolve the state Assembly should not be mentioned during the ceramahs.Obviously, the Home Minister was taking 'ampuism' to a new height by making sure that the incoming P.M''s name was not associated with the Mongolian model Altantuya. It really boggles the intelligent mind how a Minister could dictate such frivolous conditions and prohibited the utterance of the name a woman who was brutally murdered. To compound matters , opposition parties were not issued with permits to hold ceramahs and were constantly harrassed and force to disperse.All these measures by the Home Minister purportedly to help the B.N govt back-fired and support for the opposition increased many fold.

Pakatan Rakyat's success in both the bye-elections in Bukit Selambu and Bukit Gantang owe largely to the stupendous policies and actions of the Home Minister.With the removal of Syed Hamid Albar as Minister of the Home Ministry, Pakatan Rakyat lost one of its strongest ally. It remains to be seen whether the new Minister, Hishamuddin, the cousin of Najib would be an ally or foe of Pakatan Rakyat.